Death rates are the lowest on record and life expectancy continues to increase, according to the latest report released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Death rates have continued to decline over the past 20 years. In 2009, the standardised death rate was the lowest on record at 5.7 deaths per 1000 people. In 1989, the standardised death rate was 9.1 deaths per 1000 people.

There were nearly 141,000 deaths registered in 2009 (72,300 men and 68,400 women).

Australian life expectancy for both males and females continues to be amongst the highest in the world. Assuming current death rates, a boy born today can expect to live an average of 79.3 years, while a girl can expect to live to 83.9 years. Having survived to age 60, men could expect to live another 23 years and women another 26 years.

Since 1989, life expectancy has increased by 6 years for men and just over 4 years for women, reflecting the decrease in death rates over time. The increase in life expectancy is one of the factors contributing to the ageing of Australia's population.

The infant mortality rate increased slightly, from 4.1 deaths per 1,000 births in 2008 to 4.3 in 2009.

Further information is available in Deaths, Australia, 2009 (cat. no. 3302.0) available for free download from the ABS website www.abs.gov.au.

State and territory information is also available. Sub-state information will be available on 9 December 2010.

Media Notes:

The standardised death rate removes the effect of different age structures in different populations.

When reporting ABS data the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or ABS) must be attributed as the source.